Organisers

A joint initiative by the European mineral raw materials industries

Welcomed by the European Commission

“The European Minerals Day is an excellent way to inform, educate and enthuse European citizens about the importance of the minerals sector in providing raw materials that are essential for so many everyday products. The sector is vital to Europe’s competitiveness and its success is built on sound principles of sustainability and innovation.” (Günther Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission, 2009 Launch Event, Prague).

“The European Mineral Day 2013 has been chosen as a key channel for the promotion of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Raw Materials”, Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission, 2013.

European Coordinators

IMA-Europe - The European Industrial Minerals Association

The European Industrial Minerals Association, IMA-Europe aisbl, was founded in 1993 to provide sector-based representation for industrial minerals and to promote the interests of its members: CCA-Europe (Calcium carbonates), EBA (borates), EuLA (lime & limestone), ESMA (andalusite, mica, sepiolite & vermiculite), EUBA (bentonite), EUROFEL (feldspar), EUROSIL (silica sand), EUROTALC (talc), IDPA (diatomite), KPC-Europe (kaolin & plastic clays). Under its umbrella, IMA-Europe represents about 500 quarries and 800 plants. IMA-Europe covers all issues related to industrial minerals except commercial ones. Health and safety at the workplace, environmental protection and product safety are some of IMA’s top priority issues. IMA-Europe ensures that the industrial minerals industry at large benefits from the sharing of non-sensitive information and plays a supporting role in the promotion of best practices. The European Minerals Day was launched in 2007 at the initiative of IMA-Europe, as a multi-sectoral pan-European awareness raising event. For more information on IMA-Europe, please consult: www.ima-europe.eu.

CEMBUREAU - The European Cement Association

CEMBUREAU, the European Cement Association, based in Brussels, is the representative organisation of the cement industry in Europe. Today CEMBUREAU includes 29 Members (27 Full Members and 2 Associate Member). Currently, its Full Members are the national cement industry associations and cement companies of the European Union (with the exception of Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia) plus Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Croatia and Serbia are Associate Members of CEMBUREAU. In 2011, the production of cement in the CEMBUREAU 28 Member Countries amounted to 263 million tonnes, representing just over 7% of total world cement production (3.6 billion tonnes). CEMBUREAU Members directly employ approximately 61 000 people. For more information on CEMBUREAU, please consult: www.cembureau.eu.

EuroGeoSurveys is an organisation of 33 European Geological Surveys. Our statutory aims are to address the European issues, to promote contribution of geosciences to EU affairs, to assist EU to obtain technical advice and to provide a network between the geological surveys.

EuroGypsum – The European Association of Gypsum Industries

With a turn over of 7 Billion Euro, 154 quarries, 120 plants, the European Gypsum Industry is one of the few fully integrated industries within the construction products field. The European Gypsum Industry covers the whole life-cycle of the product. The companies which extract the mineral “Gypsum” also process it and manufacture the value-added products and systems mainly used in construction. Gypsum products are eternally and fully recyclable as they always keep their natural properties after every recycle. Therefore, the gypsum companies strive to recycle the products at the end of their life-cycle (demolition waste).

EuSalt - The European Salt Producers' Association

EuSalt is an international non profit association with a multi-functional role. Primarily EuSalt exists to provide information, about salt and its many uses, to the general public and other interested parties. We also aim to encourage a better understanding of salt and recognition of the role it plays in our lives whether it is helping us get around in winter, keeping our bodies functioning or any of the many other uses for salt, in the home and industry. At all times, EuSalt aims to present a factual, balanced viewpoint and we regularly participate in relevant European and international forums. Another part of our role is to support international organisations like the Iodine Network, who are working to eliminate iodine deficiency worldwide, by sharing our expertise and knowledge.EuSalt represents 21 salt producers (its members) located across Europe. Working closely with our members, the association encourages best practice on many aspects of production including environmental policies. We also liaise with the national salt associations across Europe, providing help, information and support when necessary. For more information on EuSalt, please consult: www.eusalt.com

EUROMETAUX - The European Association of Metals

Eurometaux constitutes the interface between the European non-ferrous metals industry and the European authorities and international or intergovernmental bodies. It is committed to establishing dialogue with the latter in order to ensure early consultation in all fields of policy and legislation that may affect industry and to asserting the sector’s views and positions in this respect. It asserts the contribution of the European industry and its products to sustainable development, as well as this industry’s views and positions, whenever the opportunity to do so arises across all sectors of society. In doing so, Eurometaux is the industry’s voice on all regulatory matters. For more information on Eurometaux, please consult: www.eurometaux.be.

Euromines is the recognised representative of the European metals and minerals mining industry. The association’s main objective is to promote the industry and to maintain its relations with European institutions at all levels. Euromines provides services to its members with regard to EU policy and serves as a network for cooperation and for the exchange of information throughout the sector within Europe. The association also fosters contacts with the mining community throughout the world.

ETP SMR: The European Technology Platform on Sustainable Mineral Resources (ETP SMR) aims at modernising and reshaping a fundamental pillar of the European economy: the European Minerals Industries. These include oil, gas, coal, metal ores, industrial minerals, ornamental stones, aggregates, smelters as well as technology suppliers and engineering companies. For more information on ETP SMR, please consult www.etpsmr.org.

IndustriAll - European Trade Union, The voice of industrial workers all over Europe

industriAll European Trade Union is the voice of industrial workers all over Europe. It represents 6.9 million workers across supply chains in manufacturing, mining and energy sectors on the European level. industriAll advocates thorough social reforms, the reinforcement of democracy and the promotion of economic and social progress in Europe. It supports an integrated Europe without borders, with common social standards, a high level of social protection and the involvement of workers and trade union representatives. industriAll Europe is a member of the ETUC and is closely cooperating with IndustriALL Global Union to defend workers’ rights on the international level.

UEPG, the European Aggregates Association promotes the interests of and contribution to sustainable development of the biggest non-energy extractive industry with Members in 27 countries in Europe, an annual production of 2.7 billion t, with 26,000 extraction sites across Europe operated by 15,000 companies – most of them SMEs. Aggregates are a granular material used in construction, i.e. sand, gravel, crushed rock, marine aggregates, recycled and manufactured aggregates. Every new home typically requires up to 400 tonnes of aggregates. Every new 1km of roadway requires up to 30,000 tonnes of aggregates. Aggregates are indeed the core building material in all our homes, offices, social buildings and infrastructure: without aggregates these would literally fall apart. Like for water and air, the question for the supply with aggregates is not whether we need it but how to get these materials in the most sustainable way. To learn more about UEPG and Aggregates visit our website at http://www.uepg.eu/.

European Organisations supporting the initiative

EFG - European Federation of Geologists

ELO - European Landowners Organisation

EBCD - European Bureau for Conservation and Development

RESTORE (www.restorequarries.eu) is a trans-national partnership project working to develop a framework for restoring mineral sites to deliver benefits for biodiversity, people and the economy, throughout north-west Europe. It is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVB NWE programme.